Mildew Vs. Mold
Mold is a fungus that grows as very small organisms that devour dead material such as leaves and release spores into the air to propagate. While mildew is a type of mold, what sort of mold it is depends largely on whom you ask. Some experts consider mildews to be molds that live in certain outdoor locations, such as on the underside of leaves. More common knowledge holds that mildew is a thin, dark mold commonly found in bathrooms inside buildings. Does this Spark an idea?
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Mold Purpose
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While mold is often reviled as an unwanted contaminant in homes and buildings, in nature it serves a necessary purpose, breaking down dead or dying organisms such as leaves. Mold lives off the nutrients left over in the dying materials, and converts the rest to smaller pieces that are eaten by insects or absorbed into soil to provide energy for other plants.
Unwanted Mold
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Inside homes, mold can be a nuisance. As mold grows, it releases spores into the air, which float around until they come into contact with a surface. Mold spores are almost always in the air, but it is difficult for them to grow into mold without the proper conditions. Generally mold needs dirt or a dirty surface to develop, a source of moisture that it can absorb and the proper temperature, which can vary from mold to mold.
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Mildew Explanations
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Myriad explanations describe what mildew is and how it is different from mold. Essentially, mildew is a type of mold. The name can be used interchangeably with mold, but to scientists it means primarily mold that grows outside, especially mold that grows on plants. Many homeowners use the term mildew to describe the opposite occurrence, molds that have grown out and spread over a wide area inside houses. In appearance, mildew is usually considered to be flat and dark.
Hazards Associated with Mold
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The two primary dangers linked with mold are destruction of materials and allergic reactions. Mold lives off of the surface it grows on, and if mold infects wood or fabric for long enough it will destroy patches of the material. A large amount of mold will also release many spores into the air, which can cause allergic reactions in susceptible people. More rarely, mold can infect people and cause dangerous medical conditions or death.
Considerations
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Mold is notoriously difficult to get rid of, and the most important step is usually re-creating an environment so that mold simple cannot grow there. This may require sealing up sources of moisture, thorough cleaning and continual maintenance of mold-infected areas. Permeable materials with mold damage must be removed, while other surfaces must be rigorously cleaned.
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